Campus News
May 9th, 2024
GC tops Skipjacks, eliminated by AACC
Garrett's 6-4 loss to Riverhawks keeps Lakers from Final Four
Coach Hallenbeck and the Lakers baseball squad.
Arnold, MD – Eighth-seeded Garrett College fell just short of reaching the NJCAA Division II Region 20 Final Four, dropping a 6-4 baseball decision to fourth-seeded Anne Arundel Community College Tuesday afternoon as the Riverhawks used a three-run sixth inning to break a 3-3 tie.
The Lakers (29-29) upset fifth-seeded Chesapeake College, 12-2, earlier in the day to earn the match-up with host AACC, which had a bye in the single-elimination sub-regional. Anne Arundel (28-23) used the victory over GC to qualify for this weekend's double-elimination Final Four, with a berth in the NJCAA Division II national tournament on the line.
Zach Hallenbeck (two doubles, walk, run, four RBI) and Colby Schmitz (3-for-4, two doubles, two walks, three runs, RBI) led the way offensively in the win over Chesapeake. Schmitz also earned the pitching victory, allowing two runs – neither earned – on eight hits and a walk with three strikeouts in six innings.
"He [Colby] basically did everything for us in Game 1," said GC head coach Eric Hallenbeck. "He came through for us on the mound. Hitting-wise, he's been like that all year long."
Hallenbeck was especially pleased with the performance of son Zach Hallenbeck, who missed 30 games due to injury.
"I was happy for him," said Eric Hallenbeck. "I was maybe a little bit happier because he's my son. Zach's first double turned a 3-0 game into a 5-0 game. His second double in the ninth inning really broke it open."
Garrett took the lead for good against Chesapeake by combining three walks, a wild pitch, and a passed ball into a first-inning run. Jonathan Padgett made it 2-0 with a solo, second-inning homer.
Hallenbeck had a two-run double and Skipjack reliever Caleb Fisher walked Ty Giblin with the bases loaded during a three-run Garrett fourth that made it 5-0. Kaleb Elliott doubled in a run and then scored on an error during a two-run sixth that got Chesapeake on the board, but the Skipjacks couldn't get any closer.
Garrett added an unearned run in the eighth and broke the game open with a six-run ninth. Angel Oquendo (three runs) had a two-run single and Hallenbeck delivered another two-run double as part of the ninth-inning uprising.
GC reliever Collin Cottrell pitched three scoreless innings, giving up three hits while striking out five, to earn the save.
Chesapeake starter Branden Brown took the loss, walking six and yielding two hits in 3 2/3 innings while getting charged with five runs. Four Skipjack pitchers combined to give up 10 walks and 10 hits while allowing 10 earned runs.
The Lakers started strong in Game 2, taking a 1-0 lead on Schmitz's first-inning homer. Anne Arundel used a two-run third and a single fourth-inning run to take a 3-1 lead, but the Lakers tied the game, 3-3, as Oquendo (two hits) delivered a two-run single in the fifth.
Anne Arundel strung together four straight, one-out hits during its decisive sixth-inning rally.
GC starter Ethan Sebold issued a one-out walk to Nicco Holland and then yielded singles to Alejandro Casanova and Russell Turner to load the bases. Donny White's single through the right side against GC reliever Coleman Bullard plated Holland with the go-ahead run, and Griffin Klein followed with a two-run single.
Schmitz's run-scoring groundout in the top of the seventh pulled GC within 6-4. Giblin (two hits) and Hallenbeck had consecutive, two-out singles, but Jacob Kennell flew out for the final out of the inning.
Chance Ritchey joined Oquendo and Schmitz with two hits each for the Lakers. Casanova, White, Klein, and Agustin Murillo each had two hits for AACC.
Caden Houck, the second of three Riverhawk pitchers, improved to 3-0 with a scoreless sixth. Sam Ross earned his ninth save, allowing one run on two hits in three innings.
While the Lakers felt just short of their third Final Four appearance in seven years, Hallenbeck was pleased with his squad's achievements.
"From starting 2-9 to getting within a win of the Final Four, that was special," said Hallenbeck. "We had sweeps against Potomac State and Allegany College, and we beat [Maryland JuCo champion]Frederick. We accomplished a lot."